breast

Question 1

Inflammatory breast cancer

Answer 1

• generalized increased density relative to the contralateral one.
• There is trabecular prominence and skin thickening, with inversion of the nipple.
• No obvious calcification.

Differentials

1. Infl ammatory breast carcinoma
2. Infection: mastitis with possible associated abscess
3. Post-radiotherapy infl ammation
4. Non-breast malignancy: leukaemia, lymphoma or adenocarcinoma (of the • lung)
5. Post trauma

Question 2

Gnynaecomastia

Answer 2

• flame-shaped density which merges into surrounding fatty tissue in the retroareolar aspect of the left breast

Causes

1. physiological changes at puberty and senescence
2. endocrine disorders: hypo- and hyperthyroidism
3. systemic diseases: chronic renal failure and cirrhosis
4. testicular tumours: germ cell, Leydig and Sertoli
5. non-testicular neoplasms: liver, lung and renal cell
6. pharmacological: anabolic steroids, digoxin, cimetidine, spironolactone
7. marijuana